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Which AI tools replace voicemail or an answering service?

Short answer

On this site, 28 real small businesses use AI to replace voicemail or an answering service. The tool named most often is Upfirst (11); the other 17 use other tools or their own setups. The most common business types are clinics & dental (9), contractors & home services (7) and law firms (4).

Tools used for this job

Counted by the main tool each business names. We don't rate tools or list prices.

28 real examples

Examples with a reported result come first. Every result is what the linked source reports. Company case studies are written by the tool maker, so read them with that in mind.

1
Clinics & dental · AI receptionist (not named in the episode notes)New

Have an AI receptionist catch missed new-patient calls at a dental office

Carolina Pines Dentistry is a dental office in North Carolina. Its owner dentist talked on a dental marketing podcast about adding an AI receptionist that answers missed new-patient calls and books after-hours visits instead of sending them to voicemail. The podcast host's company sells a dental AI receptionist, so keep that in mind.

I want this· Dental Marketing Goat podcast, Episode 282 · Owner's own story
5
Contractors & home services · ServiceTitan AI Virtual Agent

Book HVAC and plumbing jobs after hours, in English and Spanish, with an AI agent

Air One, a family HVAC, plumbing and electric company in Colton, California with about 12 employees, used an answering service that could only take messages after 5 PM. Its AI agent now books after-hours calls straight into ServiceTitan, in English or Spanish, and books emergencies the same night.

I want this· ServiceTitan success story · Company case study
7
Contractors & home services · AI voice receptionist + booking automation (built by Veltra AI)

Quote, book and follow up on pest control jobs while you're on site

2Tap Bird and Pest Solutions, an owner-led pest control business near London, was losing urgent calls to voicemail while the owner was on jobs. An AI receptionist now gives prices from the live price list, books during the call with a text confirmation, turns quick notes into branded service reports, and asks for a review once the job is paid.

I want this· Veltra AI case study · Company case study
9
Clinics & dental · Upfirst (AI receptionist)

Replace a costly answering service with an AI that texts patients and tags each call

The Flossery, a three-dentist practice in Waltham, Massachusetts, dropped a human answering service that cost more and took wrong phone numbers. The AI answers patient questions, takes their details, texts new patient policies, and tags each call so the front desk can see which ones are scheduling requests.

I want this· Upfirst case study · Company case study
12
Clinics & dental · Upfirst (AI receptionist)

Send callers your booking link so you can rest between sessions

Alanna Brewton runs Breathe Wellness Center, a counseling practice in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Her sessions are back to back, and checking voicemail meant giving up her only breaks. Most callers just want an appointment, so the AI receptionist texts them her online booking link and tells other callers how to reach her.

I want this· Upfirst case study · Company case study
13
Retail shops · Upfirst (AI receptionist)

Answer menswear store calls after closing and send them to the right shop

Karako Suits is a family-owned men's formal wear business in New York with several stores. Lots of calls came after 6 PM and on weekends and went to voicemail. Now an AI receptionist takes over when the office closes: it answers fit and fabric questions, handles vendor calls, and transfers callers to the right store.

I want this· Upfirst case study · Company case study
14
Law firms · Upfirst (AI receptionist)

Replace a costly answering service at a two-person law firm

Thomas Davenport runs the Davenport Firm in Pineville, Louisiana with one assistant. He was paying an answering service that wasn't working, and when his assistant was out, the phones fell on him. Now an AI receptionist asks callers about their situation, takes messages, and lets him decide what's urgent and what can wait until morning.

I want this· Upfirst case study · Company case study
16
Clinics & dental · Upfirst (AI receptionist)

Block spam calls and let real clients get through again

Jason Akel runs Village Hypnotherapy & Coaching in Orinda, California. Spam calls got so bad that he sent every call to voicemail, and in nine months not one real client left a message. He forwarded his number to an AI receptionist and gave it his website, articles and answers to common questions, so it can explain his services and book consultations.

I want this· Upfirst case study · Company case study
17
Contractors & home services · Upfirst (AI receptionist)

Ask window and door callers the right questions and text them a booking link

Windura is a window and door replacement company in Kansas City, run by Bonnie Lee and her husband since 2001. For years they were the only two people answering the phones. After another AI answering service got worse over time, they switched and trained their AI receptionist on their own workflow.

I want this· Upfirst case study · Company case study
18
Accountants & bookkeepers · Smith.ai AI Receptionist

Let an AI receptionist take tax client calls so you can call back prepared

The Tax Chick.PRO is a small tax and bookkeeping firm in Houston. Many calls went to voicemail because there was no one to answer while client work was going on, and hiring a receptionist wasn't affordable. After a human answering service disappointed them, they set up an AI receptionist the same day.

I want this· Smith.ai case study · Company case study
19
Restaurants & cafés · Slang.ai (voice AI)

Let an AI answer a busy brewpub's phone and screen out junk calls

Lil Beaver Brewery is a one-location brewpub in Bloomington, Illinois. Staff answered the phone when free, or it went to the manager's office, so calls were missed and voicemails piled up. A voice AI now answers calls, gives callers accurate information about orders and private events, and screens out robocalls.

I want this· Slang.ai case study · Company case study
20
Salons & spas · BookingBee.ai (AI receptionist)New

Give salon clients an answer at any hour instead of voicemail

FORD Salon is a nine-person hair salon in downtown Kelowna, British Columbia. The front desk couldn't answer every call, and changes and cancellations took time away from clients in the chair. An AI receptionist now answers 24/7, books appointments, handles changes and cancellations, and answers questions.

I want this· BookingBee case study · Company case study
21
Clinics & dental · Zoom Virtual Agent Receptionist with Zoom SchedulerNew

Let a one-person practice book new clients at night with an AI receptionist

RolfPros is a one-person Rolfing (hands-on bodywork) practice in the Denver Tech Center with no front desk. Calls went to voicemail while the owner was with clients, and most callers didn't leave a message. He built an AI receptionist named Lisa from his own answers to the questions new callers ask. She answers 24/7, explains the service and fees, and books appointments into his calendar. Anything clinical goes to him.

I want this· Zoom blog · Company case study
22
Clinics & dental · Resonate AINew

Text every missed caller right away and get summaries by email instead of voicemails

Garden Springs Dental, a general dental practice in Lexington, Kentucky, used to start every day with staff listening to voicemails. Now an AI assistant named "Katie" texts missed callers right away, handles new patient questions, and sends the team an email summary of each conversation. The practice manager was worried patients would dislike the AI, but says very few have raised concerns.

I want this· Resonate AI case study · Company case study
24
Contractors & home services · Podium Voice AINew

Replace an HVAC answering service with voice AI that books after-hours jobs

Glendale Heating & Air is a family-owned HVAC company in the Seattle area (Burien, WA) with 11 trucks, 6 service techs and 5 installers. For 28 years the co-owner took every after-hours call personally. The company replaced its answering service with Podium's Voice AI, which answers routine questions and books appointments after hours.

I want this· Podium (case study) · Company case study
25
Contractors & home services · Podium AI Employee (Voice AI)New

Replace a per-minute answering service with an AI employee at a plumbing and HVAC company

Warner Super Service is a plumbing, heating and cooling company in Oxon Hill, Maryland. It tried voicemail, an overnight call manager and an answering service that charged by the minute. After losing an HVAC sale over a weekend, it added an AI employee that answers after hours and during busy periods, and captures lead details.

I want this· Podium (case study) · Company case study
26
Clinics & dental · PupPilotNew

Answer every after-hours call at a vet clinic with AI that can see the pet's chart

Natchez Trace Veterinary Services is a vet practice in the Nashville and Franklin, Tennessee area. After-hours calls used to go to voicemail, and the owner says they lost clients that way. PupPilot's AI now answers those calls, looks up the pet's medical record, follows the clinic's own protocols and escalates urgent cases.

I want this· PupPilot · Company case study
27
Law firms · Upfirst (AI receptionist, found through Clio)New

Book law firm consults after hours, in English and Spanish, with an AI receptionist

Richards & Richards Law Firm is a four-attorney firm in Ogden, Utah handling immigration, criminal defense, family law and estate planning. Calls that came in while staff were busy or after hours were a problem, and its live answering service charged extra for every add-on. The firm switched to Upfirst, which it found in Clio's list of assistants. It switches to Spanish when a caller speaks Spanish, sends texts for payment links and scheduling, and books consults after hours.

I want this· Upfirst · Company case study
28
Retail shops · Upfirst + Zapier + SlackNew

Answer a 24/7 supplier's calls with AI and post every call to Slack

M. Solomon Casket Company in Cranston, Rhode Island supplies caskets to funeral homes, who call at all hours. Its human answering service kept changing staff, and the script wasn't being followed. The company switched to Upfirst, which answers calls, transfers the ones that need a person, and uses Zapier to post every call recording and message into a Slack channel so the whole team sees it.

I want this· Upfirst · Company case study

Questions and answers

Which AI tools replace voicemail or an answering service?

On this site, 28 real small businesses use AI to replace voicemail or an answering service. The tool named most often is Upfirst (11); the other 17 use other tools or their own setups. The most common business types are clinics & dental (9), contractors & home services (7) and law firms (4).

What kinds of small businesses use AI to replace voicemail or an answering service?

On this site: clinics & dental (9), contractors & home services (7), law firms (4), salons & spas (3), retail shops (2), real estate (1), accountants & bookkeepers (1) and restaurants & cafés (1). Some use cases count under more than one business type.

Are these real examples?

Yes. Each one links to its source: 1 owner's own story and 27 company case studies. 28 of 28 report a result, and every result is what the source says. Company case studies are written by the tool maker.

For tool makers

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Other jobs: answer customers after hours · text back missed callers · take phone orders · answer customers in Spanish and other languages · screen out spam calls · help with quotes and estimates · All jobs →